Watch- Gautam Gambhir Tells BCCI To End India vs Pakistan Cricketing Ties

India head coach Gautam Gambhir issued a firm statement on India-Pakistan cricketing ties following the recent terror attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir. The former cricketer emphasized that India should suspend all sporting and cultural relations with Pakistan until cross-border terrorism is fully eradicated.

The attack has deepened tensions between the two nations, leading to restrictions on the social media accounts of several Pakistani athletes within India. The two countries have not played a bilateral cricket series in over a decade, limiting their encounters to ICC and ACC events.

No more India v Pakistan ties: Gautam Gambhir

During an appearance at an ABP event, Gambhir reiterated his stance, stating that there should be no engagement between India and Pakistan in sports, films, or cultural exchanges. He added that while this is his personal view, the ultimate decision lies with the Indian government.

"My personal answer to this is absolutely no. Till all this (cross-border terrorism) doesn’t stop, there should not be nothing between India and Pakistan."

"Ultimately, this is the government’s call whether we play them or not. I have said this before also, no cricket match or Bollywood or any other interaction is more important than the lives of Indian soldiers and Indian citizens.

Matches will keep happening, movies will be made, singers will continue to perform, but nothing comes close to losing a loved one in your family,” Gambhir said at the ABP event.

❗Gautam Gambhir: "India shouldn't PLAY against Pakistan, even in ICC events, until terrorism ends."

— Do you AGREE with him...? pic.twitter.com/AuzvLCrzjz

— Megh Updates 🚨™ (@MeghUpdates) May 6, 2025

BCCI and the Government to Decide - Gautam Gambhir on Asia Cup 2025

According to Gautam Gambhir, the Indian government will decide whether to play against Pakistan in the forthcoming Asia Cup or the T20 World Cup the following year. He said that any decision made by the authorities should be respected without turning it into a political issue.

"This is not up to me, this is for BCCI and more importantly, the government to decide whether we should play them or not (Upcoming Asia Cup and T20 World Cup). Whatever decision they make, we should be absolutely fine with it and not politicise it," said Gambhir.

Bilateral cricket already on ventilator

The last time India and Pakistan faced off was in the 2025 Champions Trophy, where the Men in Blue prevailed by six wickets. There are worries regarding the tournament's future because India and Sri Lanka are predicted to host the upcoming Asia Cup.

For more than ten years, bilateral cricket between the two countries has been prohibited, and their sole matches currently take place at ICC or ACC competitions. India has always refrained from attending these competitions in Pakistan.

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